Racer X Open Mic: San Diego
Monday, February 21, 2011 | 11:35 AM
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PrintBy Steve Matthes and Aaron Hansel
It was a wet a muddy night in San Diego, so plenty of the riders where getting out of the stadium as quick as they could after the race. But our crew found a few stragglers willing to chat about their night for Open Mic:
Austin Stroupe—18th in SX Class: Everything was alright until the start of the first triple, I jumped into a couple of Tuff Blox. I put a good charge in and got up to around eighth, and made a couple stupid mistakes and ended up on the Tuff Blox and ended up breaking my clutch off. I pulled off, that ruined my night.
Did it get one-lined?
There were lines, some of them were bad and some of them were good. It was just a tough track all around. It was kind of one-lined, you just had to be real cautions.
Preston Mull—DNQ Lites Class: It was pretty good. The track was extremely challenging, but it was a good experience riding in the mud and everything. It was a rough night, you had to stay on two wheels. My heat was pretty sketchy. The first lap was gnarly, I had a great start and was in about fourth or fifth, and then I just cased the triple, right on the Tuff Blocks. Luckily I didn’t get hit by anyone. I just finished the race as best as I could. It was definitely wet out there, it was ridiculous.
Alessi is starting to find his groove after a rough start to the season.
Photo: Garth Milan
Mike Alessi—9th in SX Class: My race was good, I was happy with the ride. I’m working hard during the week and working on my fitness to get better and better. Right now I was great until about lap 15 or 16 and I’ll keep working on it and by Daytona, I hope to be right in there challenging for the top five. That’s my goal, get better every weekend and be one of the top guys.
Fabien Izoird—13th in SX Class: It’s incredible, it’s a big experience for me and I’m happy with the mechanics, Mike Fisher and the whole team. They push me to try and make me better. It’s a dream you know? It’s perfect, everyone gives their best. I’m very happy and I work all week very hard to do the best for me and the team.
It’s no difference from Ryan (Villopoto) to me you know? This is perfect for me and I’m so happy. I’m not the speed of a Jake Weimer and my goal is to make the main events for the team. Once there, I push hard to get a good position. I’d like to thank all the team for what they do for me and they are great.
Morais struggled in the San Diego mud.
Photo: Garth Milan
Ryan Morais—9th in Lites Class: It was a rough night for me. Heat race, I got a good start and I don’t know what I was doing that first lap. In the main, I got a bad start and was freaking out trying to make stuff happen and ended up on my head. It was frustrating, I spun on a take-off and came up short and high-sided. My bike was in the other lane and I had to wait for everyone to go by. I was nineteenth or something and made it up to ninth. Once I had a clear track, I felt like I rode pretty good.
I finally was able to get ready for this race, I felt good all week this week, because ever since Anaheim one, I wasn’t even able to practice until the Thursday after Anaheim 2. I just hit my head before the first race. I went over the bars on a pretty easy double. Coming into the season I felt good, I was riding great and we had done a lot of testing. It’s a bummer for sure. At the beginning of the season I was pulling races together but in the last few rounds, it’s been no bueno.
Andrew Short—6th in SX Main: It was decent, I had some problems in the middle that allowed those guys to pull close. I just had a problem with one section out there. In the mud, I am not that good but I’m getting better out there and made the podium in Salt Lake City in the mud. I’m getting more time on the bike and it’s coming slowly. I’m in that next pack after the top five and in sixth in the points right now. I’m excited for what’s happening out there.
Where was the line out there for the holeshot? I thought they used the where the sign was because I went in there a little dirty to get the holeshot! I didn’t realize that it was on top of the jump. I didn’t dip into the clutch at all and it’s key on that bike.
The positive for me was the awesome start. I almost had the holeshot, and ran up front for a little bit. I think I was fourth, with three or four laps to go, and ended up sixth, which is still consistent, and I got some good points. It was a good night, we’re building here at KTM. The track was tough. It was really similar to last year, and last year bit me; I broke my foot. I was a little tentative, and I rode really tight. The track was tough. It was greasy on top, and really rutted. It was very tricky.
No rear fender, no front number plate, no problem. Villopoto still managed to fight back to seventh after a terrible start.
Photo: Garth Milan
Ryan Villopoto—7th in SX Class: Not a good night for me but I’m still the points leader right now by three. I thought I had a good start but I got tangled up a little bit. I was actually two spots behind Stewie after the triple and we went into the right hander when Brayton stopped a little bit. I just got rear-ended and went down.
"I had to stop in the mechanics area to rip my rear fender off and then I ripped my front number plate off. I was in there for a little bit." - RV
When I was on the line, I felt like I was going to win. I felt really good. I caught up from pretty far and I thought I was riding well when I was finally out there. For the night that could’ve been, it was alright.
Michael Byrne—16th in SX Class: I wish I would have waited [to come back] a week! (Laughs) The track was brutal, it had a lot of holes in it and was beat up. I rode well in the LCQ to get in and once in the main, it was just survival mode. My wrist injury is my throttle hand and there’s no strength in there right now. It was pretty embarrassing for me out there really. I was just circulating and that’s frustrating, this track was harder than anything I’ve been practicing on in the last four weeks. Next week, there won’t be any rain out there and we’ll be ready.
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Pretty cool thread, like this story. this is good to get some insight from the riders. Man, alot of guys not happy with Shorts performance for being on a factory bike, but he is still ahead of Byrne in points and he is a factory rider, and nobody rags on him.
By the way, does anyone know if JT $ was injured in that crash?
JT$ money tore his ACL as a a result of that crash.
Byrne is far from a factory rider! He is running a production bike with off the shelf bolt-ons.
I don't understand why you guys are surprised that Ralph and Jeff comment on Stewart all the time? He is one of the top two guys, do you expect him to comment on JT$ and not how this would throw Stewart to the bottom of the pile in pts? C'mon...think a little.
I don't understand the Short comments, BD, who's comparing him to Byrne? I'm kinda surprised that no one is commenting more on Alessi. He's gone from not making mains to a consistent Top 10 rider in the last 3-4 wks...impressive. It seems to me that the KTM takes a different riding style than what those guys are accustomed to with the 450, making it seem somewhat of a disadvantaged ride. I think Short's starting to figure it out little by little, but with this field, he's a 5 or 6th position guy at best even on a 450.
Alessi is crazy if he thinks he is cracking the top 5 on a consistent basis. Andrew Short is happy being the top guy in the "next pack". RV2 talks like he is calm and in control but he is always on the ground, which is it? I would laugh at GoPro if they asked me to wear one of those cameras on my helmet. I see so many people try to wear them at local Hare Scramble races, just to get ripped off in the woods.
so, because JT$ (and Partridge last yr) are not in the points lead chase their seasons or safety ( or being taken out of them ) dont matter???
I agree, that comment on National TV singling out Stewart being more important was freaking CRAP!!
Ya JT$ was gracious and did not blame js but still his season is over !!!!!
Damm happy for twotwo but even happier about the points bunching up. So now it is RD's turn, he needs to getter done. ( lil slang there )
Also it was Byrne's first RACE bd200.
How about two 350's almost holeshooting!!
What??? you mean someone else ran into the back of another rider (RV got run into)....so much for Stewart being the only guy it who does that "reckless" riding ....Oh wait, and the Dunge did it as well ?? he ran into a parked car (Byrne) on the stadium floor....Right, Alessi goes from the top 3 to 10th in 6 laps and the rest of the guys are on the ground or are just out.....RV caught and passed Alessi and was nearly a lap down.....
Short is right where I expected him to be, Last year he ran 3rd to 5th most times, Now JS and Reed are back and TC moved up so that puts Short right where he is.
sign of the lap times should be good this week. If the AVG lap times start after lap one RV might have the best time.
Slim473 You need to C'mon and think a little. When it comes to the racers getting hurt and reporting it on a tv broadcast each racer is just as important as the other. Don't matter if your Stewart or Thomas, as a fan I want to know the status of their injury. That to me was disrespectful of Shaheen.
why does matthes always have to post stuff on alessi. I'd be happy to never hear that name again. Why is matthes putting a picture and wasting space on a 9th place guy who barely makes main events. "Starting to find his groove"- Cummon matthes. Did he ever have a groove? not in SX
What? No words from Josh the Douche? All those people that defended him a few weeks ago when he took time out of his push to the front to ensure he put Canada over the bales, where you at now? Anyone think him taking out Cunningham was in the best interest of preserving his title run? Anyone see Cunningham do anything to him during the race? I saw him pass 100 over the finish line, that's all I saw. I give 100 all the credit in the world for continuing to ride through a seriously tough injury to ride with, but he is nowhere near "mature". He continues to be a punk, the moto Gods will ensure karma is delivered to him...
its great to see different winners and close points but in reality its still a two man race ..
Yep, Hansen is a dirty rider. while not every time, when he passes he tries to make contact or at least run em wide. Would like to see Tomac win the title, that kid seems to be having a great time and is very respectful.
Redbeard your an idiot
BILLC, your right, I messed up. I meant Metcalfe, dont know why I wrote Byrne. Metcalfe is on Factory Suzuki, and is down behind Short in points. And the KTM's looked better than they have so far this year. I still think the 350 will really hurt them if they ride them all year outdoors. But I would like to have one, and 350 might be just right for myself.
dz958 - Why am I an idiot? Just simply stating that the world fell in on Stewart last week for something that was pretty much out of his control, only to watch Dungey do the same thing basically....sure Stewarts crash into JT was much knarlier than RD playing bumper cars....but my point was "it happens" I dont think Dungey is reckless nor is Stewart...it just happens....if peeps are gonna jump on JS7, then jump on Dungey too....in my opinion, RD could have avoided his bump into Byrne if he had his head up.....
Alessi is in his groove of going backwards, instead of just starting in the back or not starting the main at all, he gets his good starts and goes from top 5 to 10th in a matter of laps....
Pinned, I don't always put Alessi in everything, this is just a place to put quotes from all sorts of riders no matter where they finish. Look we have a guy in there that didn't even make the main or Byrne, who got lapped twice. It's just a place for the fans to go to get a little snippet from someone besides the guys that everyone is going to hear from i.e- the podium dudes.
At least there was no Pic of J-Law LOL
Same Here bd200, That 350 is a great all around bike I bet. I Think they will be on 450's, Short said he can Ride what he wants. I really believe in SX the 350 is just fine but also feel at some outdoor tracks it will hurt. But even on the tracks that it hurts there will be sections where it helps some. I would love to see how RV or JS would do on a 350 in SX. Not to knock on Short but he is were he would be on a 450 or a 350 IMO. But Guys like RV and JS That are front runners could prove if it can win or if it hurts ya.
Redbeard- It is a moronic statement, its like comparing Stewart taking people out in his first turn crash to Hanny taking out KC this week. They are not the same thing at all. RV getting hit from behind and taken out was in the first turn of a mud race (shit happens). Dungey bumped into a guy stalled out in a turn (who care). Stewart decided to follow JT$ and triple when JT was only going to double (RECKLESS). Now JT$ has a torn ACL, just another one of Bubba's victims due to reckless riding.
dz958.......redbeard is at BillC's house right now cuz they both have hard-ons for RD.
I'm sure if James hit Byrne like Dungey did, which I agree is not a big thing, there would be much more talk about it......stewart didn't know JT wasn't going to make the jump any more than RD could see Byrne stalled out trying to restart his bike in front of him is the point....yes it is racing and shit happens....
Excellent format Racer X!!! keep it coming.
Top step for #22!!! Awesome.
BILLC. I think some guys could win on anything, and I dont think Short would be any higher in the points either. Maybe a holeshot or two, but he doesnt hang it out there enough. I would love to ride the 350 just once to see were it is. I think they are making an enduro one too, for us guys who dont race anymore..
Garjan111.... Please grow up. I agree AGAIN bd200, But if JS or Rv won on a 350 would people stop calling a POS?? Some are slamming the 350 because it is not winning but like we said it won't with Short on it but I realy don't think it is hurting him at all. The starts have been very god the last few weeks for all the KTM 350's as well.
Why do we spend so much time griping about the reporting and the coverage? The reporting generally has a little bit of something for everyone. As for the TV... well, think about when you watch a race. There are (at least) 20 races happening simultaneously. The producers have to pick one to follow as it is happening, and they look for the most action. I am thankful for both the online and TV coverage- let's talk about the racing!
anyone else notice alessi's helmet cam on backwards? must be watching for the lines people take to pass him lol.